He didn’t wake me up,” Aleah whispered, her voice tinged with a mix of annoyance and hurt as she stirred awake. From the balcony, she caught sight of the horizon painted in hues of orange and purple, the sun slowly descending. Twilight was fast approaching. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she decided to rise, the lingering ache of being forgotten gnawing at her chest. She took a long bath, hoping the warm water would soothe her simmering thoughts, before stepping out to face the evening.
As Aleah left her room, she headed to the wedding venue for the rehearsal. But when she arrived, an unsettling emptiness greeted her. The silence in the room was almost deafening, amplifying the loneliness she tried to push aside. With a deep breath, she made her way to the dinner hall, where the lively chatter of family members filled the air. Their laughter and voices intertwined like a melody, one she felt she could never be a part of.She lingered at the doorway, her steps"Oh, you’ve arrived!” Amanda exclaimed cheerfully as she spotted Hunter and Aleah entering the dining hall. The woman was approaching Sebastian and Damian’s table, carrying a tray of food. “Take a seat so you can eat,” she said with a warm smile.Aleah glanced over at Rafael and Claire’s table. The two waved at them, signaling for them to sit there.“Let’s sit by Rafael and—” Hunter turned to Aleah, ready to guide her to Rafael and Claire’s table, but he froze when Aleah suddenly sneezed. The sound drew everyone’s attention.“Don’t tell me you caught a cold from just a little rain?” Hunter teased, adjusting the jacket draped over Aleah’s shoulders. Aleah wiped her nose and sneezed again.“Do you have a fever?” Hunter asked, concerned by her sneezing fit. He placed his hand on her forehead and neck to check if she was running a temperature. The scene didn&rs
“Well, they’re at it again, huh?” Dennis’s father quipped as he joined them, his gaze falling on the elders engrossed in their chess game. Dennis followed behind him, but his attention was fixed on Aleah.“Are you feeling all right? I’m sorry, I didn’t—” Dennis started, his voice tinged with guilt.“It’s okay. I’m all right,” Aleah interrupted gently, flashing him a reassuring smile.“That’s a relief,” Dennis said, visibly relaxing.“Let’s eat, everyone!” Amanda called out cheerfully, having just finished arranging the food on a long table. At her announcement, everyone stood and gathered around, eager to dig in.As they enjoyed their dinner, the beach was filled with lively chatter and bursts of laughter. Aleah observed the joyful scene, a bittersweet smile crossing her face. She couldn’t help but think of her mother, who had stayed behind
The wedding of Daniella and Zane was nothing short of spectacular, a celebration that drew a glittering crowd of prominent personalities. Political leaders, influential business magnates, and distinguished Alphas from various packs graced the occasion, making it a confluence of power and prestige. Even several high-ranking military officers—acquaintances of the elder members of the families—joined the festivities. The wedding not only solidified the union of two powerful families but also boosted their prominence beyond the realms of business, spilling over into the political sphere. Some attending politicians were so impressed that they openly expressed their desire to see a member of either family venture into politics.Amid the revelry, Aleah found herself isolated, sitting quietly at a table while the rest of the guests mingled and celebrated. The family members were busy entertaining the high-profile attendees, leaving Aleah alone with her thoughts. She felt ou
"Hey," Hunter murmured, his voice low and steady as he gently tapped the young woman's cheek. He carefully laid her down on the bed, his movements deliberate, as though afraid she might shatter. He tried to rouse her, coaxing her to wake up and change out of her clothes, but her intoxication was too heavy, pulling her deeper into unconsciousness."Zen," she whispered, her voice soft and fragile, her eyes remaining closed."What is it?" Hunter asked, his brow furrowing as he knelt to remove her shoes. He worked silently, his hands steady, but she didn’t respond. His gaze lingered on her face, her features serene yet vulnerable, as if she were lost in a dream."What a drunkard," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head with a faint smile. Rising to his feet, he made his way to the bathroom, returning moments later with a damp cloth. He knelt beside her again, the cool cloth brushing against her flushed skin as he wiped her face with gentle strokes."Zen
"Benjamin?” Aleah exclaimed in surprise as she approached the gate of their home. Her voice trembled with confusion as her eyes met Benjamin’s figure, standing motionless just outside the property. His expression was inscrutable, his gaze fixed on their house as if lost in thought. The moment Benjamin spotted Aleah, his demeanor changed abruptly. He turned on his heel and walked away without uttering a single word, leaving her puzzled and slightly unsettled.Aleah felt an urgency to stop him, calling out his name and quickening her pace toward him. Yet Benjamin moved swiftly, increasing the distance between them until he disappeared from view. As Aleah stood by the gate, her mind raced—this was the first time she had seen Benjamin near their home. He had always seemed like someone who preferred his own company, avoiding unnecessary social interactions. This unexpected visit and odd behavior made her wonder what could have brought him there.Inside the hou
“They are after me. I need your help,” Benjamin said, his voice trembling as his eyes darted nervously around. Hunter frowned at his nephew’s words, bewildered by his frantic demeanor. Who was chasing him, and why did he appear so alarmed?“Tell me everything so I can help you,” Hunter responded calmly. “We can talk inside—” Hunter’s words were abruptly cut short as he studied Benjamin’s expression.It was evident that his nephew was running from something—or someone. Hunter couldn’t help but wonder: had Benjamin gotten entangled in trouble with rogues or some kind of syndicate?“No, I can’t. You might get into danger if they see me entering your house,” Benjamin interjected, his tone urgent, halting Hunter mid-sentence. Hunter’s mind began to whirl. What kind of mess had his nephew gotten himself into to appear so frightened?“Why come here if you’re
Any updates on the investigation I requested?" Hunter asked his team as he stepped into their conference room, where Rafael and the rest of the Astral Guardian members were seated. Hunter’s thoughts had been consumed by Benjamin ever since their encounter the day before. The young man’s troubled demeanor and Aleah’s cryptic warnings had sparked his concerns. To make matters worse, Benjamin had seemingly vanished—he hadn’t returned to the mansion, and all attempts to contact him had failed. Even his parents were growing increasingly anxious.As a law enforcer, Hunter felt an obligation to look into the situation, especially if his nephew was caught in a dangerous predicament. But beyond that, he couldn’t understand why Benjamin was being so secretive or who was chasing after him."It seems your nephew is in danger, Alpha Hunter," Joyril announced while activating the large monitor in front of the team. A map of interconnected data p
Aleah glanced toward the door of Claire's condo and said with curiosity, “It looks like you have a visitor.” She had just come over after her class to unwind and spend time with her friend. Since their return from the Espinosa family's private island, both Aleah and Claire had been caught up in their own busy schedules, leaving them little time to talk.“I’ll get it,” Aleah offered, looking back toward the kitchen where Claire was busy preparing snacks. The inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries filled the air.As Aleah opened the door, the scene before her stunned her into silence. Benjamin, pale and visibly injured, stumbled forward and collapsed at her feet.“Benjamin!” Aleah exclaimed, panic rising in her chest as she knelt beside him. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the dark, spreading stain of blood on his abdomen. Her hands trembled slightly as she reached out to check if he was conscious.He
Aleah had been dropping by the hospital every day to see her sister, Natasha. And every single time, it bugged her how Natasha didn’t even bother visiting her baby in the nursery. One day, when Aleah came to check on her, she noticed a man walking out of Natasha’s room. As she got closer, Natasha’s face said it all—she was scared out of her mind. “What’s going on? Who was that guy?” Aleah asked, but Natasha just shut down, refusing to say a word. The thing was, Aleah kept seeing the same guy hanging around the hospital. Something wasn’t right. One day, she overheard Natasha arguing with him in her room. She didn’t plan on listening in, but her sister sounded so shaken she couldn’t help it. “You need to give me that video!” Natasha pleaded, her voice trembling. The guy chuckled. “Why would I? That video’s making me a ton of money,” he said, completely unbothered. Aleah’s gut twisted. What was this guy talking about? She couldn’t shake the bad feeling. Then sh
Aleah and Natasha got to the hospital, and right away, Claire came up to them. Her eyes went wide as she stared. “Aleah? Natasha?” she gasped. Seeing Natasha’s round belly made her freeze for a moment. Nobody was expecting this—least of all Claire.“What’s going on?” Claire asked, still staring at Natasha, who avoided her gaze.Aleah didn’t miss a beat. “Her water broke. She needs attention,” she said firmly.Claire blinked, catching up with the situation. “Oh, right! Hold on.” She waved down a nurse and gestured for Natasha to follow them to the delivery room.When Natasha was out of sight, Claire rounded on Aleah. “What happened?” she demanded.“I saw her outside the mall. There was a hostage situation,” Aleah said, keeping her voice steady.“No, I mean… she’s pregnant!” Claire exclaimed. “How come no one knew?”Ale
For a week, Aleah stayed in Italy to accompany her mother in taking care of her grandfather, Antonio. Fortunately, he had passed the critical stage. According to the doctors, he just needed rest and would soon recover. In the meantime, Guiller temporarily took over his responsibilities. Since Aleah had to return to her country for work, her mother stayed behind in Italy to look after her grandfather, along with her husband.Currently, Aleah has been accepted into Dennis's law firm while waiting for her bar exam results. Dennis mentioned that it would be beneficial for her to be there, as he could assist her and she could gain valuable experience. She could decide later whether to continue working there or leave. Aleah didn’t turn down the opportunity, and Hunter agreed as well. However, he warned her not to trust Dennis too much, as the latter still had feelings for her. Aleah assured Hunter that he had nothing to worry about.On her way home in a taxi, Aleah noticed
The members of the Astral Guardian carefully infiltrated a cargo vessel as part of a joint mission with the Navy. They moved cautiously, ensuring that they made no noise that might alert the kidnappers inside. Within the cargo vessel, three male hostages were being held. The Navy members located a container where the captives were confined.Since the container was locked, one member had to shoot the lock to open it. Once the lock was broken, another Navy member forcefully kicked the door open. The hostages were visibly shocked to see the Navy members standing before them.One of the hostages blinked in disbelief as the Navy members appeared in the doorway."We're getting you out of here," one of the Navy officers said firmly, already moving to help the nearest man to his feet.“We need to move. Now,” another hissed, scanning the area. “They’ll know we’re here any second.”Without hesitation, their leader barked, “Hel
"He's not gonna make it, is he?" Elara asked Aleah, watching the families on the school grounds snapping pictures. Today was Aleah's graduation day, but something felt missing.Aleah glanced at the scene, her gaze lingering on the happy faces. "I don't know, Mom," she said softly, biting her lip as she scanned the crowd.“Don’t tell me your husband’s off saving the world again?” Dennis said as he walked toward them, his suit crisp and a bouquet of flowers in hand.Aleah’s eyes met his. "Dennis," she greeted quietly."For you," Dennis said, offering the bouquet with a grin. "Seriously, though. I heard he just got out of the hospital. Is he really off on another mission already? Seems like he’d rather save strangers than be here for you."Before Aleah could reply, Rafael joined them with Claire and their child in tow. "Hey, he’ll be here soon," Rafael said confidently, giving Aleah a warm smile.Seeing them, Aleah
The birthday party for Daniella and Zane’s child came to an abrupt end when a frantic call from the hospital informed them that Hunter was in the operating room. Without wasting a second, they raced to the hospital, where the Vice Admiral and two of his men were waiting.Aleah froze the moment her eyes landed on the Vice Admiral. The world around her seemed to stop, her body going icy cold—especially when she noticed the blood staining the hands and uniforms of his men.“What happened to Hunter?” Daniella and Zane demanded, their voices sharp with worry. The Vice Admiral shook his head, refusing to share any details. “The doctors have been working for almost six hours now. His injuries are... serious. Even though he should’ve been able to heal himself, the wounds are too severe this time.”He continued, his voice grim, “He was shot. One hit his body, but the worst—we think—might’ve hit his head.”
A young man was running frantically, dodging gunfire from men on motorcycles and a pickup-style jeep. Explosions erupted behind him as he sprinted, forcing him to quicken his pace to evade his relentless pursuers. The chase led to a beach, where the explosions continued to trail him. One of the men in a car aimed a rocket launcher at him, causing the young man to dive just as the rocket exploded behind him. He landed on the ground, unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.The pursuers stopped a short distance away, and one of them ordered two men to check if the young man was still alive. They approached him, turned him over with their feet, and saw blood streaming from his head, along with wounds on his side and shoulder. Noticing his faint breathing, one of them cocked his gun, ready to end the young man's life.Just as the trigger was about to be pulled, the sound of a helicopter filled the air, followed by gunfire targeting the men on motorcycles and in the car. One
Before they headed back home, Hunter and Aleah made the most of their time together on their honeymoon. After three long years apart, Hunter wanted to make sure Aleah never felt insecure, even with the new mission looming ahead. She would always be his number one—he promised her that in a letter three years ago."Morning, love," Hunter greeted with a bright smile as he walked into their room. Aleah couldn't help but beam when she saw him carrying a breakfast tray with a single white rose resting on top. When she woke up and found his side of the bed empty, she thought he’d left for his mission—gone without a word, as his top-secret missions usually demanded. The Vice Admiral’s visit had left her half-expecting it. She had even braced herself to go home alone. But there he was.Hunter set the tray on the bed, picking up the rose with a grin. "Breakfast in bed, madam."Aleah raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "What’s th
Ahem." The throat-clearing sliced through the sweet moment between the couple. Hunter and Aleah both turned to find its source. Aleah’s eyes rounded when she saw a man she didn’t recognize. He wore a spotless white uniform—the kind Navy officers wore, if Aleah had to guess. Her eyes caught on the insignia on his shoulder. Two younger men stood behind him, their stances stiff, their outfits screaming “military.”"Alpha Hunter," the man in white said as he saluted, sharp and precise. The two men behind him followed suit. Hunter helped Aleah up gently before returning the gesture."Vice Admiral Salvacion," Hunter replied, his tone calm but alert."Sorry to crash your vacation," Salvacion said, extending his hand to Hunter.Hunter hesitated, glancing at Aleah. She didn’t say anything, just quietly watched the exchange, her expression unreadable. Hunter’s gut churned—whatever the Vice Admiral was here for, it wasn’